Mike Benard

Mike Benard held the top communications job at Kodak as Director of Communications and Public Affairs and Vice President for more than a dozen years, until his retirement in 2006.  During his 20 years at Kodak, Mike served with 5 CEOs, 4 of them as head of Communications and Public Affairs where he had worldwide responsibility for internal and external communications, government affairs, community relations, corporate contributions, and management communications. 

One newspaper executive wrote about Mike:  “He has been thinking deeply of how digital technology is affecting newspapers in much the same way it changed Kodak … and he believes newspapers’ successful transition to the digital age is crucial to American democracy.” 

Mike’s corporate communications experience includes Kodak and PPG Industries.  Antonio Perez, Chairman and CEO of Kodak, noted: “Mike has led the communications and public affairs effort around Kodak’s digital transformation, and has provided years of wise counsel and leadership to the company during a time of great change.”

A graduate of John Carroll University, he holds a BA in English and a M.Ed. from Temple University.  His undergraduate studies included one year at Loyola University’s Rome Center, Rome, Italy.